August? Why not start the Xmas letter now! There are 2 overseas adventures to recount since last year's letter plus much more (he says hopefully).

As mentioned in last year's letter, Krysia and myself, Alex and Nich were bound for Siem Reap and the temples at Ankor Wat on Xmas Day. There were dramas though before we got to the dawn o'clock departure. Krysia's gall bladder was giving her more and more grief and we really shouldn't be going anywhere. In fact, we didn't even pack until literally minutes before Michael drove us to the airport. The web site contains my blog of the actual holiday and I won't go into it here. Still waiting to see some of Nich's squillions of photos he took.

Whilst we did Cambodia, Michael and Eva did Vanuatu for about the same amount of time. Krysia came off her contract with Industry and got stuck into her last unit of her Masters Degree with the odd job application along the way.

For those political watchers out there, remember the night the Senate stayed up all night bickering over something not important ? I was rostered to the Senate that night. Luckily, it was a mild night so many drivers stayed out of their cars, talking amongst ourselves. At about 4:00 am, management made the call for a hot-shift change over so we scampered back to the depot where the earliest of the morning shift roster hopped into our cars and went back. If I recall correctly, the Senate rose around 9:00 am whilst my head hit the pillow around 5:00 am. I didn’t expect to work that day but I got a call at midday from the Shift Allocators to see whether I would be ready to start at 3:00 pm. Sigh. They wisely didn’t roster me to the Senate that afternoon as I may have been tempted to give them an earful!

A bouquet to COMCAR as they made a couple of changes that make our conditions much better. I am now notified the day before a shift and this is great. We also have a minimum shift of 3 hours, also a vast improvement over the previous 2 hours. Well done COMCAR to listening to the drivers.

I began to imagine me back on a motorbike. Funnily enough, I sent an email to the local dealer and the next day I woke up and could barely move my neck. Let’s just call that a sign. After scans and physiotherapy, it is back to normal and I don’t think of motorbikes any more.

Fewer and fewer Geocaching adventures. One epic hike in the Tidbinbilla ranges and my toes still haven’t recovered from the descent on the way back. Proud to say I’m not Pokemon Go-ing – Pttthhh, amateurs!

Krystyna finally declared war on her gallbladder and it was removed. It won’t ever bother her again.

Canberra had the longest mildest Autumn ever – it’s official. In late May, I was still going for walks just wearing a polo shirt.

June saw our European Adventure and again, I refer you to the blog for the details of that journey and the photos. Returning to the middle of winter has not been easy. Krysia has started a contract with the Australian Federal Police. She started the day after returning, jet lag and all. I managed to beat jet-lag by the age old trick of sleeping badly on the planes but staying up until bed time on arrival. Krysia also got hit with a month long lurgy that hit her for 6.

Krystyna did complete her Master’s Degree at ANU, over achieving in almost every unit. Alex and myself attended her graduation. Phd anyone ?

One of the wettest winters ever (Now October). Lake George is back to being Lake again. That election of ours! Well, that didn’t go according to Malcolm’s plan. The new Senate especially didn’t go to plan with a new intake of very special nutjobs. Watching the US campaign with my jaw firmly drooping on the ground. I look forward to the day when the Donald is just a distant memory (Ha, that didn’t exactly work out as planned). We are about to have an ACT Territory election and we don’t have an uplifting choice of candidates. No wonder both major parties are on the nose.

I was inspired by the smaller than usual Floriade and have been planting flowers about the place. Maybe some of Alex’s students will get some pleasure from them.

AND ………wait for it ………… I’m learning Polish via DUOLINGO an App on the phone/ipad and a web site. It’s not a good look as I struggle through the lessons. So far, I do at least 10 minutes a day (and the streak has been going for over 50 days). Still can’t hold a decent conversation about anything except tomatoes, apples and tea (and elephants).

Dr has finally got excited about the heart murmur I have had since my teens. A number of tests including a heart ultrasound and he has convinced me to try to lose those few extra kilos to help get the blood pressure better under control. I did one of those 24 hour blood pressure tests which proved my anxiety also needs a bit better control (and then the stupid Yanks go and elect Trump) as my blood pressure is quite good when I am not awake. That makes it a bit tougher. The average length of my daily walks is so slowly creeping up and I try to make the minimum distance at least 6km and I have given up chocolate and sugar.

Had a few more interesting COMCAR shifts including a pick up at Chifley Square in the Sydney CBD and bring the Minister and his staff back to Canberra. Also had a drive in pouring rain to Mittagong. Those sorts of shifts are always more interesting than the usual run of the mill.

An unwelcome visitor in the pile of slate in our driveway. I went out to do water the veggie patch and was dismayed to see the last bits of an Easter Brown snake scurry under cover. It is not entirely true that I needed a wardrobe change shortly thereafter.

Well, tis the week before Xmas and I put the finishing touches to this. Barely made it over 2 pages – I guess if I had included the travel bits it would have been a mini book (if you haven’t read the travel bits, they are up on the web site). Yes, the same technical problems about a family Xmas photo still haven’t been resolved so you will just have to imagine us, with me looking younger than ever.